Colorado: The Buffaloes, with their first 10-win season since 2001, were holding out hope for a Rose Bowl berth, but USC got the Pac-12 spot in Pasadena after moving from 11th to ninth, and a spot ahead of Colorado, in the final CFP rankings. Colorado lost 41-10 to Washington in the Pac-12 championship game.

Oklahoma State: The Big 12 runner-up, Oklahoma State had a seven-game winning streak before losing to Oklahoma in their regular-season finale Saturday. Coach Mike Gundy considers the Cowboys a 10-win team since officials admitted their mistake that gave Central Michigan (not undefeated Western Michigan) an extra play for a Hail Mary pass to beat the Cowboys on Sept. 10.

LAST TIME

Oklahoma State 31, Colorado 28, Nov. 19, 2009.

BOWL HISTORY

Colorado: The first Colorado bowl since 2007 will be the 29th in school history. The Buffaloes have played in the Alamo Bowl once, losing in overtime to Wisconsin in the 2002 game.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are going to a bowl for the 11th season in a row and 27th time in school history. Oklahoma State 1-2 in the Alamo Bowl, beating Arizona in their last appearance six years ago.